deceased 1 of 3

deceased

2 of 3

noun

deceased

3 of 3

verb

past tense of decease

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective deceased contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of deceased are dead, defunct, departed, and late. While all these words mean "devoid of life," deceased, departed, and late apply to persons who have died recently. deceased is the preferred term in legal use.

the estate of the deceased

Where would dead be a reasonable alternative to deceased?

While in some cases nearly identical to deceased, dead applies literally to what is deprived of vital force but is used figuratively of anything that has lost any attribute (such as energy, activity, radiance) suggesting life.

a dead, listless performance

When is defunct a more appropriate choice than deceased?

The meanings of defunct and deceased largely overlap; however, defunct stresses cessation of active existence or operation.

a defunct television series

When could departed be used to replace deceased?

The words departed and deceased can be used in similar contexts, but departed is used usually as a euphemism.

our departed sister

When is it sensible to use late instead of deceased?

Although the words late and deceased have much in common, late is used especially with reference to a person in a specific relation or status.

the company's late president

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of deceased
Adjective
This isn’t the first time technology has been used to revive the presence of deceased rap legends. Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 14 May 2025 Among the hostages are four deceased American citizens, including husband and wife Gadi Haggai and Judi Weinstein Haggai, as well as soldiers Itay Chen and Omer Neutra. Abeer Salman, CNN Money, 12 May 2025
Noun
GEDMatch is one of the databases used by the DNA Doe project, a non-profit that works to name the deceased who remain unidentified. Crimesider Staff, CBS News, 27 Apr. 2018 See All Example Sentences for deceased
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deceased
Adjective
  • Three of the party members — ages 36, 47 and 63 — were pronounced dead at the site, authorities said.
    Escher Walcott, People.com, 13 May 2025
  • O'Keefe was discovered dead outside the following morning.
    Michael Ruiz , Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 13 May 2025
Noun
  • The decedent appears to be a white, adult male, approximately 5’2 and 150 pounds with brown eyes, according to the coroner’s office.
    Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 12 May 2025
  • Probate is the process to transfer assets to heirs and beneficiaries regardless of whether the decedent died with a Last Will and Testament.
    Priya Prakash Royal Esq. LL.M. MBA AEP TEP, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025
Verb
  • Nunn died in 2016 from leukemia at age 63.
    EW.com, EW.com, 28 Jan. 2025
  • An American Airlines employee has died following an accident on the tarmac in North Carolina.
    Angel Saunders, People.com, 28 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Emmit Yarbrough, 58, pleaded guilty in March to arson, a Level 4 felony, and abuse of a corpse, a Level 6 felony.
    Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 22 May 2025
  • Schneider has been charged with kidnapping leading to death, concealment of a corpse and endangering the integrity of the corpse, per The Telegraph; Caboubassy and Benrakia were charged with complicity.
    Becca Longmire, People.com, 20 May 2025
Verb
  • Cline never released a duet or other collaboration, and the new album features nine, including one with Cowboy Copas, who perished in the plane crash with Cline (along with fellow Opry star Hawkshaw Hawkins and Cline’s manager, Randy Hughes).
    Nancy Kruh, People.com, 12 Apr. 2025
  • At least two former Major League Baseball players also perished in the disaster.
    Max Saltman, CNN Money, 10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Elissa was scheduled for more imaging tests in late August to see whether the tumors responded to the new therapy.
    Kristen Jordan Shamus, USA Today, 19 May 2025
  • But beggars can’t be choosers, so Vargas-Keller will be something to watch in round two of the City Series in late July at Sox Park.
    Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 19 May 2025
Verb
  • Over roughly a decade, approximately 8,000 giant sequoias — some aged over 2,000 years — were felled using cross-cut saws, axes, steam donkeys and elaborate flume systems that transported logs to distant mills.
    Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 24 May 2025
  • Beech and oak logs felled in the Morvan Forest were fastened together and floated along the Yonne, then up the Seine to fuel the fires of the growing population of Paris.
    Rachel Howard, Travel + Leisure, 13 May 2025
Adjective
  • But with Harden, Norman Powell and Ivica Zubac taking the majority of the shots instead of the departed Paul George and a rehabilitating Kawhi Leonard, the Clippers score 45.9 percent of their points in the paint (fifth in NBA).
    Law Murray, The Athletic, 20 Feb. 2025
  • These spirits not only provide a thoughtful toast to the departed but also serve as a reminder of Mexico’s deep traditions and reverence for the past.
    Rachel King, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024

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Cite this Entry

“Deceased.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deceased. Accessed 27 May. 2025.

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